City's Extra Funds May Result in Hire

FORT MEADE -- City Manager Al Minner has found another $34,500 in Fort Meade's general fund for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, opening the door to hiring a code enforcement officer.

The discussion developed Wednesday night during a preliminary vote on the city's proposed $13 million budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The commission unanimously approved the spending plan. A final vote will take place Sept. 16.

The $34,500 windfall appeared when the city's insurance premiums came in lower than expected, Minner told the commission. Commissioner Melony Bell immediately suggested that the money be used for code enforcement.

"We need to clean up this city," she said. "I hate to see recreation going by the wayside, but we have people pounding on our doors saying they want our city cleaned up."

For now, code enforcement issues are handled by the city's permit technician in the building department. Code enforcement includes junk cars, overgrown grass, unsightly debris in yards and other violations of the city's ordinances.

Minner had offered three proposed uses for money -- hire a code enforcement officer, repair the Police Department's roof or retain the recreation superintendent's position. That position was eliminated earlier this summer when Ron Himmelmann resigned.

"This is not a decision you have to make tonight," Minner said. "Remember, the budget is not a Bible. It can be rewritten."

Commissioner Bob Elliott said he'd like to see the city explore the code enforcement option.

"I think that's something that really needs to be studied," he said. "We need to see how it ties into the building department."

The city could consider creating a part-time position for code enforcement, freeing up a portion of the $34,000 for another project. If that happens, commissioners agreed Wednesday that the police building needs to take second priority.

The city will need about $20,000 to fix the leaky roof, Minner said.

"They includes restructuring the roof so it has a slight pitch to it," he said. "Right now, that roof is flat."

A recent study showed that the city's Police Department has outgrown its present offices, and it will take an estimated $1.5 million to build a new one. With money tight, commissioners said that for now they're more inclined to repair the existing building.

Minner said the city also has the option of financing the roof repairs over two years, using a portion of the $34,500 to pay this year's share of that expense.

Commissioners asked Minner to draft a proposal outlining the city's options for hiring a code enforcement officer and repairing the roof.

The budget windfall also freed up about $19,000 in the electric department and water and wastewater department, but Minner advised the commission to leave that money in those respective funds for reserves.

"The budget is so thin in those enterprise funds, I wouldn't recommend transferring that money out," he said. The commission agreed.

Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzbiz@yahoo.com or 863-533-9070.

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